Opposition party will rebuild Nigeria, says Tinubu

Leader of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, declared yesterday in Kano that the opposition parties remain resolute in their desire to reconstruct Nigeria into a sturdy and bright home that will terminate the prevailing poverty rate, unemployment and insecurity.

Asiwaju Tinubu, a key player in the promotion of the All Progressive Alliance (APC), said the country is sufficiently blessed with leaders endowed with the ability to turn the nation around by chasing away, “the demons,” whose activities have remained a source of impediment to the general growth of the Nigerian society.

He spoke at the Third Convocation of the Kano State University of Science and Technology (KUST), Wudil and the conferment on him and other prominent Nigerians of honorary doctorate degrees of the institution.

“History teaches that those who stay resolute shall win in the end; we are resolute for there is no shame in wanting democracy, no shame in wanting prosperity, fighting against poverty, ignorance and diseases, just as there is also no shame in believing in justice, striving for a better life and demanding good governance,” he said.

The ACN leader, who was honoured with the Doctor of Science, Honaris Causa in recognition of his immense contribution to the development of academics, said “a heavy cloud hovers over-head and there seems to be no woe by which we are not besieged: poverty, unemployment, diseases, religious and ethnic divides as well as terror, sadly, our house is weak because of poor infrastructure.”

He added: “To lift this nation from its low state, you must equip the people with the knowledge needed to face the challenges on ground. Education is a practical dynamic thing that must be adapted to our needs and reflect our circumstance; it must give us the skills needed to become architects of the destinies we seek and not idle bystanders in our lives.”

Citing the crisis in the education sector, he said: “we should not abide by a system whereby 1.7 million candidates seek admission to universities, where only 500,000 places exist in both private and public universities.”

He said it is dangerous for the country to ” give our people skills for jobs that do not exist, while the work at hand goes undone because of lack able labour,” and expressed the determination of the APC to “create the change that will render extinct Boko Haram and other violent movements across the land. In the face of increasing progress and prosperity, such groups shall remain where they belong; small, fringe and inconsequential. By wedding innovative technology and good governance, we guide the nation to her better future.

“There will be no need to even contemplate a state of emergency in Nigeria, there will only be a nation and 36 states of emergence towards development, prosperity and hope.”

Tinubu described the award as a symbol of unity and hailed the authorities of the University for considering him and others worthy of the honour.

His words: “We are one in Nigeria regardless of cultural, religion or political differences. I am touched to the heart by this expansive gesture. In doing this, you ignored the imaginary divide between North and South because of your nationalistic courage; you recognise no such divide exists except in the minds of those who would keep us down, divided and at each other’s throats.

“In your wisdom, you realise that we are one. Come what may, we shall remain one. I commend your courage and wisdom. You must maintain this standard because we need this type of courage and wisdom to see our nation through its current tumult. Although storms break all around us, we shall not faint. We shall not cower in fear for our purpose is right and our ways are democratic and just.”

Governor Rabiu Kwankwaso of Kano State, who is the founder and visitor to the University, in his speech recalled the commencement of academics in the university in 2001 with 548 students, pointing out that today, “twelve years later, the University is graduating 696 students for the 2011/2012 session with a total enrolment of almost 10, 000 students and 23 academic programmes.”

According to him, the university’s projection is that a decade from now, it will have a students’ population of 25, 000.

Also honoured yesterday were Senator Hamisu Musa; the Emir of Daura, Alhaji Umar Farouk Umar; and the late Alhaji Mudi Spikin.

In his brief speech, the institution’s Chancellor, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, congratulated the graduates and wished them a successful career in their future endeavours, urging them to be good ambassadors of the institution.

At the ceremony were former military Head of State General Muhammadu Buhari, Governors Ibikunle Amosun (Ogun) and Abiola Aimobi (Oyo), former Ogun State Governor, Aremo Olusegun Osoba, former EFCC Chairman, Malam Nuhu Ribadu and Speaker of the House of Representatives, Malam Aminu Waziri Tambuwal.